Congress warns of rising anger, cites Nepal unrest as cautionary tale

Drawing a parallel with the crisis unfolding in Nepal, the Congress warned that unchecked public resentment can erupt into political upheaval if people’s voices are ignored. It argued that while India’s democratic system has so far shielded it from such turmoil, growing unrest is a sign that the ground beneath those in power is far from steady.

Congress’ Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru said that frustration among citizens would only mount if their grievances remained unaddressed. Responding to questions about a social media post declaring “Bihar is close to Nepal,” Allavaru endorsed the sentiment, stressing that ignoring voter concerns while continuing with what he described as “electoral theft” would deepen public anger and escalate the risk of instability.

Flanked by state Congress president Rajesh Kumar and legislature party leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Allavaru noted that the party firmly stands by this position.

The remarks came as Nepal faces widespread protests over restrictions on social media and allegations of corruption, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The Congress drew a clear line between these developments and the mood of discontent brewing in Indian states, particularly Bihar.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Udit Raj faced sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party after he compared the unrest in Nepal with the political atmosphere in India, also citing the turmoil in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

He argued that although conditions share similarities, India has so far avoided such explosive outcomes because of its Constitution and the deep-rooted democratic structures established under Congress rule.

In a post on X, Raj wrote, “People are discussing the way in which the public has overthrown power in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and whether such a thing could happen in India. Some are even suggesting the possibility of it occurring. In reality, the circumstances are similar, and in some cases even more so, but our Constitution prevents such actions. The roots of our democracy are very deep, which were laid by Congress."